Online Exams & Academic Integrity:
How to Reduce the Risk of Cheating
Drexel eLearning Conference
March 24, 2016
Online Exams & Academic Integrity:
How to Reduce the Risk of Cheating
Rosalie S. Kreider
Clinical Professor and
Department Head, Legal Studies
Maggie Regan
Instructional Technologist
Background
The Challenge
Students Searching Online
Example: Difference between types of courts (Online searches prohibited)
• Correct Answer describing concepts discussed in the lecture and textbook: Trial
courts have juries, witnesses and testifying, and allow the admission of physical
evidence. Individuals have the right to move their case to a trial court after having
already been in a lesser court because everyone has the right to a trial by jury…
•
Appellate courts are the next level up; decisions from the trial courts may be taken
to the appellate courts for further consideration. These courts do not have
witnesses, and they hear spoken and written arguments only (legal issues are the
primary consideration). Judges question lawyers to come to their
decisions. Decisions are rarely changed on the basis of evidence and facts from
the case; instead, the legal issues are the main focus. The decision is ultimately
made by the judge of the appellate court….
Students Searching Online
Cheating Example: Difference between types of courts
Answer from online search, includes material not covered in
lecture or textbook: The second difference between the two courts is
the judges. In trial courts, there is one judge in the courtroom. That
judge decides what evidence can and cannot be used and often
decides the outcome of the case. In Indiana, appeals are decided by
more then one judge. In Court of Appeals cases, there are five groups
of three judges, and in the Supreme Court, there is one group of five
justices. The Indiana Tax Court is the exception; there is only one
judge.
Students Searching Online
• Web Source: http://www.in.gov/judiciary/2677.htm
• Student copied and pasted first 4 paragraphs from the site
• Five students of 37 used online sources for their answers
Students Working Together
Cheating: students worked together; both answers had concepts not related to question, not
covered in course, and matching wording
Student 1: Expert Painting did not have a contract for settlement of the claim $19,000. Because of
the ethical issue "Rejection of Offer by Offeree.” Because of the ethical issue "Communication of
Acceptance" the two parties must have a face to face negotiation …
Student 2: The ethical issue at hand is “Rejection of offer by offeree”. Patterson and Expert
Painting did not have a contract settlement for the claim of $19,000. Because of the ethical issue
“Communication of acceptance”, the $19,000 is still present. According to the ethical issue, a
face-to-face meeting would be required …
The Challenge
Respondus Monitor
Pre-Exam
Tech Support
• Provided by LeBow Instructional Tech
• Demand was high
Tech Support
•
•
•
•
•
98 students across the 3 classes
9 students contacted InTech (9%)
11 students with >1 webcam attempt (11%)
8 students with interrupted video (8%)
8 students with no thumbnail(s) (8%)
Tech Support
• Mac scrolling
• “Unable to launch the Respondus
Monitor startup sequence for the
exam. Please try again later.”
Automated Video Analysis
Faculty Experience
Pros
• Prohibits online search for answers
• Prevents sharing of answers and
collaboration by students
• Reduces grading time
Faculty Experience
Cons
• Students do not take practice quiz
• Change due dates for exams
• Students change computer or browser during course
• Technology issues
• Time for viewing exam videos
• Students still try to cheat
Students Still Cheat
Cheating:
Student claimed computer shut down
Waited about 24 hours before contacting us
Review of video:
Little indication of typing
Frequently looking to right (Notes; Cheat Sheet?)
Conclusion:
Turned off webcam or covered it while browser remained open
Then, copied or took pictures of the questions
Student Feedback
• Why do we have the webcam?
• Not anyone’s business who and what is
around me
• Invasion of privacy
• Lockdown browser fine, webcam slight overkill
Student Feedback
•
•
•
•
Assumed without camera, I would cheat
Why take picture of photo ID
Never required in other online courses
Important that students be made aware of it
Student Feedback
• Lockdown browser requirement was fine
• Good browser for the exam
• Understand why use lockdown browser
Student Feedback
•
•
•
•
Computer died
Error, browser closed
Browser quit, could not re-enter exam
Page scrolled to top, could not see question
Additional Strategies
to Minimize Cheating
Time Limits
Test Banks
Live Proctoring
Questions?
Thank You!
Rosalie S. Kreider
Clinical Professor and Department
Head, Legal Studies
Maggie Regan
Instructional Technologist
mar376@drexel.edu